It’s high time for cocktail enthusiasts to visit Singapore. The island country can now claim boasting rights to having the region’s strongest bar scene, with six of its watering holes included in the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars compiled by renowned London-based publication Drink Magazine. Kickstart your cocktail at The Manhattan Bar (sixth on the list), which combines the grandeur of a sophisticated hotel bar with the glamour of New York. The drinks here focus on cocktails inspired by the history of America—from the Age of Discovery until modern day—as well as forgotten classics. Each concoction is whipped up with spirits, bitters and ingredients aged in-house. Try the signature Manhattan (S$25) with Michter’s US1 Straight Rye combined with house-aged cherry brandy, or the silky-smooth New York Sour (S$25 [B600]) with a hint of ruby port and lavender.
Make your way to the Bugis for another American-themed bar with perhaps one of the most breathtaking settings in the world. Ranked the world’s 15th best bar, Atlas flaunts a resplendent art deco aesthetic featuring a towering bronze and gold display with more than 1,100 gin selections. These are used to create some of the best cocktails in the city including the signature Atlas martini (S$24 [B580]), a take on the classic drink but injected with house-made Champagne vinegar. Atlas is now hot as hell so book in advance or prepare to wait for seats for at least a few hours.
Continue on to Chinatown where three more of the world’s best watering holes are located. Operation Dagger (number 24 on the list) is a non-descript venue that serves impressive ingredient-based cocktails, while the speakeasy-themed 28 Hong Kong Street (number 25) excels in classic cocktails with innovative twists. The Tippling Club (number 31) has a cocktail menu that requires you to smell scented blotters before ordering your drink.
Nearby on Amoy Street is Native, which, though a relative newbie in Singapore’s bar scene, already bagged the 41st spot in the list and has recently made headlines for creating the rum-based Antz cocktail (S$23 [B560]), an adventurous drink garnished with locally-foraged ants from Thailand.
See a complete list of this year’s winning bars at www.worlds50bestbars.com
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